SIMPLEX/CRANE-SIMPLEX

Simplex Automobile Co.
New York, New York (1907-1912)
New Brunswick, New Jersey (1913-1919) 

This is a Crane-Simplex radiator emblem (1915-1919)    mjs
Size: 130mm wide 79mm high   MM: None

The Simplex was one of the most famous American luxury cars. It began with Smith and Mabley who were importers in New York City of some of the finest European cars, including Mercedes. In 1904, Smith and Mabley built an all-American high quality car based closely on the Mercedes Simplex. The car was called the S & M Simplex. In the financial panic of 1907, Smith and Mabley sold out to Herman Broesel who introduced a new and more powerful chain driven four-cylinder model.

The car was introduced as the Simplex Model 50 in 1907. These robust cars were excellent sporting machines which were successful in motor racing competitions. They could be had with coachwork by America's finest body builders and were large luxury cars bought by an elite clientele. A 90 hp model was introduced in 1910 and a smaller 38 hp model was offered from 1911. The company was sold in 1912 and the factory moved to New Brunswick, New Jersey.

In late 1914, the new Simplex company bought out the Crane Motor Car Company (see Crane) and, in 1915, Simplex introduced the 46 hp Simplex, Crane Model 5, which became known unofficially as the Crane-Simplex. The chain driven Simplex models continued to be built alongside the shaft driven Crane-Simplex until 1917. In 1916, the Simplex Automobile Company was acquired by the Wright-Martin Aircraft Corporation and when the First World War began Simplex car production ceased and the factory was used to make Hispano-Suiza aircraft engines. After the end of the war the last Crane-Simplex cars were put together from available parts in 1918 and 1919.

Emblems

The S & M Simplex made by Smith and Mabley in 1904 did not carry an emblem or a radiator script. 

The S & M Simplex advertisement from 1905 shown below appears to show an S & M Simplex 30 hp car with a radiator script. If such a radiator script did exist it would be extremely rare.

S & M Simplex ad (1905)    ebay

The "Smith & Mabley" name was certainly displayed on the hubcaps, see example shown below:

Smith & Mabley hubcap (c1905)    dkc

The following 1908 Simplex Fifty advertisement displays the "Simplex" name in a logo script:

Simplex Fifty advertisement with logo script (1908)  ms

The lettering style used in this "Simplex" logo script was used for the first Simplex radiator emblem, see the 1909 Simplex Model 90 emblem shown below:

Simplex Model 90 radiator emblem (1909)    caam

This is the triangular brass Simplex radiator emblem shown below. This Simplex radiator emblem is extremely rare. 

This is a Simplex radiator emblem (1909)    ms
Size: 130mm wide 80m high   MM: Unknown

It is possible that this Simplex radiator emblem was originally painted in red and black but I cannot confirm this. 

The following red and black painted Simplex radiator emblem has a closely similar design. Original Simplex radiator emblems with this design are very rare.

This is a Simplex radiator emblem (c1909-1910)   mjs
Size: 130mm wide 80mm high    MM: None

The "Simplex" logo script was changed in 1910 and a new radiator emblem appeared with the revised logo script, see Simplex advertisement for 1910 shown below:

Simplex ad with new logo & emblem (1910) ebay

This is the red and black painted brass Simplex radiator emblem in the examples shown below. Original Simplex radiator emblems with this design are very rare.

This is a Simplex radiator emblem (1912)    ms

This is a Simplex radiator emblem (1910-1914)   mjs
Size: 130mm wide 79mm high   MM: None

Most surviving Simplex automobiles also display the "Simplex" name on a brass radiator script, see example shown below:

Simplex radiator script    caam

This Simplex radiator script follows the 1910 logo script and may have been used from that date, although I have not seen any original period photos of Simplex automobiles showing this radiator script. Original Simplex radiator scripts with this design are rare.

The following Simplex radiator script is a different design but appears to be a reproduction radiator script:

Simplex radiator script

The "Simplex" name was also displayed on the hubcaps, see example shown below:

This is a Simplex hubcap (c1910)    caam

The following is the black and red painted Simplex hub emblem. This Simplex hub emblem is very rare.

This is a Simplex hub emblem (1910-1914)   mjs
Size: 54mm diameter   MM: None

The "Simplex" name was also displayed on a Simplex nameplate/serial plate attached to the body, usually on the dash, see example shown below. This Simplex nameplate/serial plate is rare.

This is a Simplex nameplate/serial plate (1911)    mjs
Size: 96mm wide 46mm high

The following is a Simplex nameplate/serial plate from 1912. This Simplex nameplate is also rare.

This is a Simplex nameplate/serial plate (1912)   ms
Size: Unknown

The first Crane-Simplex models appeared in 1915 and carried a new radiator emblem, as shown in the advertisement shown below:

Crane-Simplex ad with new emblem (c1915) carstyling

This is the red and black painted, nickel plated Crane-Simplex radiator emblem shown above at the top of this post and again below. This Crane-Simplex radiator emblem is rare.

This is a Crane-Simplex radiator emblem (1915-1919)  mjs
Size: 130mm wide 79mm high   MM: None

The following is a variation of the Crane-Simplex radiator emblem, which may have been incorrectly restored:

This is a Crane-Simplex radiator emblem (c1915)   mjs
Size: 130mm wide 79mm high    MM: None

The "Crane" name was displayed on the hubcaps, see an example of the first painted Crane-Simplex hub emblem shown below. This Crane Simplex hub emblem appears to have had the "Crane" name originally painted in red. This Crane-Simplex hub emblem is very rare.

This is a Crane-Simplex hub emblem (1915)   sam
Size: 60mm diameter  MM: Unknown

The Crane-Simplex hubcap was soon changed to the design shown below:

This is a Crane-Simplex hubcap (1915-1919)  dkc

This is the new painted Crane-Simplex hub emblem. This Crane-Simplex hub emblem is rare.

This is a Crane-Simplex hub emblem (1915-1919)   mjs
Size: 60mm diameter    MM: None

The following is an early Crane-Simplex nameplate/serial plate, which is very rare:

This is a Crane-Simplex nameplate/serial plate (1915)  mjs
Size: 98mm wide 48mm high

The following is the more usual Crane-Simplex nameplate/serial plate from later in 1915. This Crane-Simplex nameplate/serial plate is rare:

This is a Crane-Simplex nameplate/serial plate (1915)   mjs
Size: 98mm wide 48mm high

The following is a Simplex emblem from the First World War period when the Simplex factory was used by the Wright-Martin Aircraft Corporation to produce Hispano-Suiza aircraft engines. This Wright-Martin Simplex plate is extremely rare.

This is a Wright-Martin Simplex plate (1917-1918)  ms
Size: Unknown